Cong asks govt to suspend US-India trade pact

Jairam Ramesh urged the government to renegotiate the deal to block farm import liberalisation, warning it could harm Indian farmers.

- ANAND SINGH

Even as the United States Supreme Court declared the tariff imposed by President Donald Trump illegal, the Congress on Saturday demanded that the BJP-led central government immediately put the Indo-US interim trade framework on hold.

Briefing reporters at the party’s old headquarters, Congress General Secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “We demand that in view of the US Supreme Court’s decision on tariff, the Modi government should immediately put the Indo-US framework of interim agreement on hold.”

He added: “Use the clause in the joint statement and renegotiate the deal to eliminate liberalisation of imports in agriculture.”

The Congress leader said the government must categorically state that there will be no import liberalisation until clear clarifications come from the American side and ensure that Indian farmers are protected.

Ramesh, a Rajya Sabha member, also sought detailed clarifications from the government on the India-US interim trade deal and called for renegotiating the agreement afresh.

He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify whether he agrees with Trump’s statement that nothing changes in the trade deal with India.

Asserting that the India-US interim agreement would adversely impact farmers, the Congress leader said the government should keep the deal on hold until clarifications are provided.